Ioana Stoica is a physics teacher at the "Tudor Vianu" National High School. In addition to imparting knowledge of formulas and theories, she strives to foster cosmic aspirations in her students. Ioana Stoica, a paragon of excellence in education, opens doors to the unknown for her students, and her chosen destiny is none other than NASA. Students at Tudor Vianu not only learn the principles of physics under her guidance, but are also encouraged to participate in large-scale international projects. Recently, students coordinated by Ioana Stoica won the Grand Prize at the NASA Space Settlement Design competition and will represent Romania this month at the event in the US.
Each year, our institution has participated in this competition and has consistently been awarded since 2011. This is the second occasion on which students from our institution have been awarded the Grand Prix, having previously done so in 2012. Teacher Ioana Stoica states that there are only two schools worldwide that have won the Grand Prix on two occasions.
Professor Stoica was recently enrolled in the League of Exceptional Teachers campaign, an initiative of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, thanks to her outstanding efforts and dedication. The campaign is dedicated to teachers who prioritise the value of education in Romania and contribute to the formation of a new generation of excellence.
In 2009, Ioana Stoica was bestowed with the accolade of coordinating NASA's "The Great Moonbuggy Race" project by the Ministry of Education and Research. For over three decades, she has been engaged in the teaching of physics and has facilitated her students' participation in a multitude of national and international competitions. She is engaged in projects coordinated by NASA, ESA, or CERN. She holds a Master's degree in Astrophysics and Atomic and Molecular Physics from the Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, as well as a PhD in Physics Education. She has been awarded a NASA Fellowship. In 2007, she was awarded a NASA Fellowship at the Space Academy for Educators in Alabama, USA. In 2010, she was selected for the Advanced Space Academy for Educators in Alabama and Florida (Cape Canaveral), USA.
Membership of the League of Exceptional Teachers represents a significant affirmation of her influence, both on her students and the wider academic community. The campaign, through the success stories of Romanian teachers, aims to highlight the pivotal role that educators play in moulding the future of society.
The "League of Exceptional Teachers" provides a forum for teachers to disseminate their exemplary achievements, which are duly acknowledged and celebrated by the FDVDR and made accessible to the general public. This initiative serves to recognize and commend the dedication and unwavering commitment of educators.
